Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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GRACE OR DISGRACE -g-i.:- 14- 1+ iq- 1+ 14- Y-:. -1- Y-1-4+ ,+V -:- 4- -:Q -t- -?- -2- -1- before how wicked he Was. Must he have this repulsive, obese creature at his house at dinner? None of the other boys had. Why must he? But he must save the family. It would be terrible not to go to Heaven when he died. He would ask after the lesson and iind out if there wasn't some other way out of it. After the lesson Skinny asked if he must have Grace for dinner, and he was heartily assured that it was the only means of saving his family's soul. He gulped once or twice and then stalked out of the room. That afternoon he came into the parlor where his mother was writing some letters. Mother! he exclaimed, trying to wear an air of indiffer- ence, but failing entirely, I want to know if I can have Grace Milton for dinner tomorrow. Why-er stammered his mother for the request quite surprised her. Now, mother, do say yes. You see I have just gotto have her! Skinny cried excitedly. All right, agreed his mother, I always said that it would bc good for you to go with nice, ladylike little girls. Now what would you like for supper? she inquired beaming wih satisfaction. Oh, anything, returned Skinny with such indifference that she couldn't help laughing. When Skinny left, his mother returned to her letter writing with an odd smile, thinking that Skinny was a very queer boy. The next day the guest arrived two hours too early. Her clock was wrong, she said. Grace was dressed in a dirty, rose plush dress covered with cheap lace and ribbons. Her hair was frizzled and her fat fingers were loaded with penny rings. It took all Mrs. Hops' will-power to control her countenance when the dear, sweet, little Grace came lumbering in, knocking the furniture askew with her ample hips. After introductions were made, the family fied to the kitchen leaving Skinny to entertain Grace. They stood and blinked at one another for a few moments. Then Skinny broke the silence by saying in a sepulchral voice: It's a pretty day, isn't it? Grace began to snicker for it was pouring outside. Skinny was greatly confused for when he had finished the weather report his funds for conversation were exhausted. Let's go into the parlor, he murmured. So they adjourned to the parlor, much to Skinny's relief. The shades were all pulled down, and the room was in total darkness. In that friendly gloom Skinny hid his confusion. They sat there about fifteen minutes, Grace in the far northwest corner, Skinny in the southeast corner. At length Skinny, thinking that the parlor's charm was wearing off, decided that they had better leave. Suddenly he had an inspiration! He would get her interested in a book and then make his escape. At the mention of books she immediately asked him Whether he liked N apoleon's or Shakespeare's poetry best, and Skinny, who knew almost as much about it as she did, remarked that Daniel Webster wrote some pretty good ghost stories once in a while. I like Romeo and J uliet, pursued Grace, who, knowing nothing about

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GRACE OR DISGRACE and he drawled: When Daniel was lifted from the lion's den he spake- Stuart, you are late. Mr. Emery rather confused his sentences for the latter part was meant for Skinny. But Skinny did not understand this, however, and thought it part of the lesson. He was proud of the fact also that he should be con- nected with such an honored person as Daniel, whom he greatly admired, although he deeply regretted that Daniel hadn't killed the lions, choked them with his bare hands, that would have been more thrilling. Skinny stalked to his seat which was in a far corner behind a terribly fat girl who was large enough to conceal three or four boys, Skinny's size. Gften Skinny had gotten out of its lessons by ducking behind Grace's ample shoulders. But not so this morning, for with Skinny's name fresh in mind although he could see him, Mr. Emery asked this question: Stuart, do you have Grace for dinner at your house ? Skinny, thinking that Mr. Emery meant the plump specimen of girl- hood in front of him, turned crimson and stuttered out that they never had. Mr. Emery turned a long, scandalized countenance in the classes' direc- tion: Children! he exclaimed, To think that a boy in our midst whose parents are members of our church and are supposed to be good, loyal Christians, who tread in the path of righteousness, who scorn the slothful, who turn from the ways of iniquity-to think that such people would be so wicked, so sinful, so like the pagan as to admit that they do not have Grace at their table. . Skinny by this time was thoroughly frightened. He had not known

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GRACE OR DISGRACE Daniel Webster's ghost stories, adroitly changed the subject. Don't you just love Romeo and Juliet ? Um-they were pirates weren't they? No! pouted Grace. Oh, yes, I remember them now! Oh, do recite some of it ! begged Grace. Skinny thought for a few minutes and then began: Well, Rome owed and owed and owed because Julie et and et and et. Oh, you horrid boy. I am going right smack home! cried Grace, jumping to her feet, then remembered that they hadn't had dinner yet she concluded to stay. Here the agony ended, for Mrs. Hops appeared in the doorway, remark- ing that dinner was ready. Take her arm, Stuart. Don't forget your manners, she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Skinny, with an expression of one going to his execution, gripped Grace by the arm and escorted her in. Skinny found that his task of supplying her wants was not an easy one. With her fat forefinger she would point to what she wanted and at the same time mumble some inaudible word, owing to the fact that her mouth was always full. The afternoon wore on and at last Grace declared she must go, and since no one begged her to stay, she made her departure, much to Skinny's relief. My, what Skinny endured in the days that followed! He was teased from morning till night. It did not take long for the children at school to find out, and they drew cartoons, made up jokes and riddles, and tor- mented him continually. His life both at home and at school was in a state of turmoil. Mother was the only one that felt that there was something behind the whole performance. She thought perhaps he had invited Grace because he felt sorry for her. The school children didn't think much about it except that it was extremely funny, and unusual, and decidedly entertaining. The more Mrs. Hops thought about it the less she thought that Skinny had done it for his own enjoyment. At last she decided to broach the subject. One night she said: Stuart, I think it was so kind of you to invite Grace that day to lunch. I guess the poor child isn't invited out very often. I did'n't invite her because I felt sorry for her, replied Skinny, and in answer to his mother's glance Skinny poured forth the whole story. His mother laughed and cried: You poor boy! she exclaimed, and to think you suffered so much because of one little mistake! His sisters gave a gasp and then looked at him with pride. George, his older brother, who had taken a large part in the teasing, looked very much ashamed, and his father exclaimed with a chuckle: Well, Sktirtnjiilso it was a choice between Grace or Disgrace, and I think you so 0 .n